QUANTUM SENSOR TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS AT FRAUNHOFER IAF - Projects at ...
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F R A U N H O F E R I N S T I T U T E F O R A P P L I E D S O L I D S TAT E P H Y S I C S I A F QUANTUM SENSOR TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS AT FRAUNHOFER IAF
QUANTUM SENSOR TECHNOLOGY AT FRAUNHOFER IAF Opt im iz ing c o m p l e x e l e ctro n i c c i rc u i ts , v i s ual i z i ng i ndi v i dual bi ts i n el ec troni c s torage medi a or t aking a look a t t he t i n y ma g n e ti c fi e l d s o f th e h eart and brai n to i mprov e medi c al di agnos ti c s – thes e are t he goals w e a re pur su i n g a t Fra u n h o fe r I AF wi th t he ai d of quantum s ens ors . Quantum sensors achieve outstanding properties in the com- Quantum sensor technology is the quantum technology bination of spatial resolution and sensitivity. Different sensor with the highest potential for industrial applications. principles can be combined and allow very compact designs We are always looking for new partners to transfer our up to a complete system. research from laboratory to application. At Fraunhofer IAF we are developing quantum sensors based Get in touch with us! on diamond that can detect magnetic and electric fields with a spatial resolution of a few nanometers down to individual electron and nuclear spins. Due to their outstanding physical properties, diamond quantum sensors operate at room temperature – ideal for industrial applications. This brochure gives you an overview of our diverse projects in the field of electronics and medical technology as well as our core competences regarding diamond. 2
QUANTUM MAGNETOMETERS FOR HIGHEST
SENSITIVITY AND HIGHEST RESOLUTION
PROJECT QMAG
The aim of the lighthouse project »QMag« is to bring
quantum magnetometers from the laboratory into industrial
applications. Researchers from six Fraunhofer Institutes are
developing two complementary quantum magnetometers,
one with highest spatial resolution and one with highest
sensitivity, which can be used, for example, in the fault analy-
sis of nanoelectronic circuits as well as in process technology
and material characterization.
The quantum sensors use the magnetic moments of individual
electrons to detect the smallest magnetic fields. These elec- PROFILE
trons are either captured in defect centers of diamond crystals
or prepared with the help of alkali atoms. They function as the Duration 2019 – 2024
smallest possible tactile magnets in a scanning probe quantum Coordinator Fraunhofer IAF
magnetometer with highest spatial resolution or in an optically Project Manager Prof. Dr. Dr. Oliver Ambacher
pumped alkali magnetometer with extremely high sensitivity. Funding Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft,
Federal State of Baden-Württemberg
Based on prototypes of such magnetometers, we will develop (in equal parts)
application-specific, cost-effective, complete measuring Partners Fraunhofer IPM,
systems. In addition, an application laboratory will be get up Fraunhofer IWM,
which will be available for partners and customers for test Fraunhofer IISB,
measurements. Fraunhofer IMM,
Fraunhofer CAP, UK Research Ltd. (GBR)
GOALS
Development of two complementary quantum magne-
tometers to measure smallest magnetic fields with high
resolution and high sensitivity at room temperature
C O N TA C T
Prof. Dr. Dr. Oliver Ambacher MORE
Project Manager I N F O R M AT I O N
Phone +49 761 5159-411
oliver.ambacher@iaf.fraunhofer.de
3
LASER THRESHOLD MAGNETOMETER –
HIGHLY SENSITIVE MAGNETIC FIELD
SENSOR FOR MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY
PROJECT DILAMAG
The measurement of magnetic fields is now standard in medi-
cal diagnostics in order to measure the activities of the brain
(MEG) or heart (MCG). However, only a few highly sensitive
magnetic field sensors achieve the necessary precision of the
measurements, usually with extreme low temperature cooling.
The aim of the »DiLaMag« research project is to use diamond
with a high density of nitrogen vacancy (NV) centres for the
first time in a laser system in order to enable new and more
precise magnetic field measurements at room temperature. PROFILE
The researchers use diamond in a laser cavity and combine
the laser system with a radio-frequency antenna to measure Duration 2018 – 2023
magnetic resonance. This so-called »laser threshold magne- Coordinator Fraunhofer IAF
tometry« (LSM) is a new research approach worldwide. Due Project Manager Dr. Jan Jeske
to its material properties, diamond with a high density of NV Funding Federal Ministry of Education
centers is particularly suitable for use as a laser medium. and Research BMBF
Partners SIGMA Medizintechnik GmbH,
The system to be developed should achieve stronger signals RMIT University Melbourne (AUS),
and higher contrast, which will lead to much more precise Macquarie University Sydney (AUS),
measurement results and open new doors for medical University hospitals of Freiburg and
diagnostics. Heidelberg
GOALS
Material improvements of NV-doped diamond, realization
of an NV-diamond laser, realization of a laser threshold
magnetometer, improvement of sensitivity and measuring
precision, first measurements of biological signals
C O N TA C T
Dr. Jan Jeske MORE
Project Manager I N F O R M AT I O N
Phone +49 761 5159-265
jan.jeske@iaf.fraunhofer.de
4HYPERPOLARIZER FOR HIGH-RESOLUTION
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING
PROJECT METABOLIQS
Cardiovascular diseases are the most common cause of death
worldwide. Improved medical diagnostics require a significant-
ly higher resolution in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The
strength of the MRI signal is determined by the polarization
of nuclear spins of biomarkers in the body, which is achieved
by high-performance magnets in combination with scanners.
Unfortunately, the hyperpolarization process used today takes
a long time, it is cost-intensive and requires temperatures
below -270 degrees Celsius.
PROFILE
The »MetaboliQs« project is developing an innovative dia-
mond polarizer that works with any commercial MRI scanner Duration 2019 – 2021
and operates at room temperature. It consists of a diamond Coordinator Fraunhofer IAF
plate with a high number of nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers Project Manager Dr. Volker Cimalla
used for hyperpolarization of biomarker molecules. This allows Funding EU – FET Flagship on Quantum
up to five orders of magnitude better polarization, which is Technologies
directly reflected in a higher imaging resolution. Partners NVision Imaging Technologies GmbH,
Technical University of Munich,
Overall, the diamond polarizer will offer 160 times higher Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (CH),
contrast, 40 times faster and 4 times cheaper polarization Bruker BioSpin GmbH,
at room temperature. Element Six Limited E6 (GBR),
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (ISR)
GOAL
Development and production of diamond with nitrogen
vacancy centers for faster and improved hyperpolarization,
development of a diamond-based polarizer for preclinical
experiments in the area of cardiovascular diseases
C O N TA C T
Dr. Volker Cimalla MORE
Project Manager I N F O R M AT I O N
Phone +49 761 5159-304
volker.cimalla@iaf.fraunhofer.de
5ADDITIONAL PROJECTS
PROJECT DIAMRI
Diamond tips as magnetic sensors
E-mails, pictures, videos – every second we generate, send and store a vast amount of data. Ever more
densely written hard disks are used for this purpose. Individual bits are only a few nanometers apart.
How can we make these tiny magnetic zeros and ones visible and check them? Project »DiaMRI«
is developing quantum sensors based on nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers. They can be used to check
individual data segments on hard disks and, if necessary, exclude them from reading and writing.
This conserves resources and saves production costs.
PROJECT ASTERIQS
Measuring smallest magnetic fields with highly sensitive diamond quantum sensors
Bringing quantum technologies from the laboratory environment into application is the goal of project
»ASTERIQs« in the FET Flagship on Quantum Technologies of the European Union. Nitrogen vacancy
(NV) centers in diamond are used to develop quantum sensors that are easy for the end user to
operate. For this purpose, the project team integrates them into a functional diamond magnetometer
with the appropriate software. This enables new applications with TRL 4 – 5, e. g. the measurement
of single molecules, the improvement of personalized medicine or a GPS-independent magnetic field
navigation system for autonomous driving.
PROJECT DIAPOL
Revolutionary cancer diagnostics using diamond quantum technologies
Cancer is one of the most common causes of death worldwide. Regarding diagnostics and therapy
evaluation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is particularly gentle on the patient, as it does not
require chemicals or radioactive substances that are harmful to humans. In the »DiaPol« project,
the partners use new developments in quantum physics to significantly increase the efficiency of
the MRI method. A diamond-based polarizer is used to amplify and align the magnetic fields of the
nuclear spin in the body‘s own molecules. This will make it possible not only to detect cancer at an
early stage, but also to diagnose the stage that the cancer cells are at.
6OUR CORE COMPETENCES
Mono- and polycrystalline diamond
Fraunhofer IAF develops components and devices based on monocrystalline and polycrystalline diamond for use in electronic
and optical devices as well as for novel applications in the field of quantum sensors. This includes the production of high-purity
and selectively doped diamond layers as well as the development of processes for further processing of diamond.
In the field of quantum sensors, we use our expertise in the generation of nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers in diamond:
These are formed when two adjacent carbon atoms are removed and one is replaced by a nitrogen atom. The excess
electron of the nitrogen atom falls into the void. This electron has a magnetic moment which, after its orientation,
can be used as a tiny tactile magnet.
Our expertise includes the selective generation of NV centers
in three dimensions: Generation of
NV centers
§ Generation of a single NV center for quantum magnetometry
and for single photon sources
§ Generation of 2D-planar NV centers in diamond for
hyperpolarization
§ Generation of volume areas with NV centers for
highly sensitive laser threshold magnetometry
e- e- e- e-
In our clean room of 1000 m² and another 3000 m² of laboratory area,
epitaxy and technology equipment is available for diamond growth (homo
epitaxy and heteroepitaxy in patented machines) as well as for processing.
We have extensive expertise and know-how in the following areas:
§ Laser cutting
§ Grinding and polishing
§ Plasma etching
§ Application of metallizations
§ Assembly and connection technology
7CONTACT US
Fraunhofer Institute for
Applied Solid State Physics IAF
Tullastrasse 72
79108 Freiburg
Germany
Phone +49 761 5159-0
info@iaf.fraunhofer.de
www.iaf.fraunhofer.de
Deborah Mohrmann
Business Development
Phone +49 761 5159-216
deborah.mohrmann@iaf.fraunhofer.de
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